Franklin and Simpson County Clash Over Planning Agreement

News Summary

A planning dispute has erupted between Franklin and Simpson County regarding their 2019 zoning agreement. The county’s termination notice, effective July 2025, has raised concerns about the future of city zoning management. Mayor Dixon argues for a more thorough process to handle the termination, while Judge-Executive Barnes suggests reverting to a previous agreement. Both parties are looking for a resolution before the March deadline, but no meeting has been arranged yet.

Franklin and Simpson County Face Off Over Planning Agreement

In the charming city of Franklin, things are getting a bit heated as the city finds itself in a tussle with the Simpson County Fiscal Court. The dispute revolves around their joint planning and zoning agreement, which has been in place since April 2019. This agreement allows the Franklin-Simpson Planning and Zoning Commission to manage building and zoning both within city limits and beyond.

Termination Notice Sparks Tension

On January 15, the county made waves by officially notifying the city of its intention to terminate the Interlocal Agreement Regarding Planning and Zoning. This termination will be effective on July 16, 2025. It seems like a long way off, but according to Franklin Mayor Larry Dixon, the timeline isn’t sufficient to work through the remaining issues.

The current agreement has a hefty ten-year duration with automatic renewals every five years. However, either party wanting out must provide a 180-day written notice. This is where the crux of the issue lies; Mayor Dixon insists that simply sending a termination letter doesn’t cut it. He argues that the original ordinance must be repealed in order for a proper termination to take place, according to a Kentucky Attorney General’s opinion.

City’s Concerns

Mayor Dixon has articulated several concerns regarding the abruptness of the county’s decision. Given the complexity of the matters at hand, he estimates that the approval process could take a minimum of three months, highlighting that the 180-day notice may not provide ample time to navigate the channel.

Both city and county leaders initially floated the idea of holding a joint meeting to address these concerns before the March 2025 deadline, but as of now, no such meeting has been scheduled. The clock is ticking, which leaves many wondering how each side will handle the growing tension.

Judge-Executive Speaks

Judge-Executive Mason Barnes has weighed in on the issue, suggesting that terminating the existing agreement would simply revert back to a previous one that existed before April 2019. However, Dixon doesn’t see it that way. He fears that sending the old agreement packing without a new one in place might lead to the Planning and Zoning Commission being effectively dissolved.

In an effort to clear the air, Judge Barnes reiterated that the intent of the Simpson County Fiscal Court isn’t to withdraw from county-wide planning and zoning. Instead, the aim is to revamp sections of the current interlocal agreement, specifically focusing on Article VI. This clarification suggests that both sides are open to dialogue, but the way forward remains murky.

What’s Next?

As tensions mount, it appears that the Fiscal Court is quite willing to discuss the matter during its next meeting scheduled for March. Meanwhile, Dixon has taken the initiative to email all members of the Fiscal Court, seeking clarification on the county’s position and pushing for a much-needed joint meeting.

As of now, there’s been no confirmation on whether Judge Barnes has responded to Dixon’s email about setting up this essential meeting. With both parties having their own perspectives, one can only hope that they can come together to find a working solution that truly serves the community’s best interests.

The stakes are high, and Franklin residents will be watching closely to see how this situation unfolds. There’s a lot at play, and the harmony between the city and county could very well influence the future of planning and zoning in the area.

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• News Democrat Leader
• State Journal
• Emissourian
• Kentucky Lantern
• WDRB News